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In Mexico, pulled pork is called carnitas, and traditionally it is cooked in a lot of lard for flavor and tenderness. Our version is called chipotle pulled pork. We by-pass the lard and all those fat calories but this chipotle pulled pork is not lacking in flavor or tenderness!
This is a spicy pork recipe with herbs, spices, fresh jalapeno peppers, and canned chipotle peppers for heat and flavor. We used a nice pork shoulder which at $1.79 a pound was pretty economical and this recipe will yield enough delicious pork to make a batch of enchiladas, some tacos, and some yummy burritos.
This recipe is so easy to make, just mix the spices together and rub over the pork then add everything to a Dutch oven or lidded oven-proof casserole dish and slide it into a 250°F oven for about three hours. As it cooks the pork releases its liquid and swims around with the spices soaking up all those good flavors. And your kitchen will have an awesome fragrance!
When the pork has cooked to the point it is falling apart, it is transferred to a large platter where bones and chunks of grizzle are removed and the meat is shredded with two forks. Now it is ready for tacos or your favorite Mexican recipe.
If you like the crispy bits of meat that is in the Mexican version then just heat up a skillet, add some of the cooking fat and fry the bottom of the pork to a crispy crust.
More recipes to check out: Chipotle Pork Skillet Dinner, Salsa Verde Tamale Pie, Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas
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Chipotle Pulled Pork
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3-½ to 4 pounds pork shoulder, bone-in
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 jalepeno pepper, seeded, ribs removed cut into chunks
- 1 or 2 chipotle peppers canned in adobo sauce
- 4-5 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 cup beef broth or water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F
- In a small dish, mix the salt, pepper, chipotle, cumin, and oregano together. Rub the spice mixture over the surface of the pork and set aside.
- Add the onion, jalapeno pepper, canned chipotle peppers, garlic, and cilantro to the bottom of a Dutch oven or large covered ovenproof casserole. Add the seasoned pork and pour the beef broth around the pork. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Remove the pot from the stove, cover it with a lid and transfer it to the middle rack of the oven. Cook for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat falls apart.
- Remove the pot from the oven and transfer the pork to a large platter and allow it to cool slightly. Discard the cooking vegetables, strain the cooking liquid and refrigerate it.
- When the meat is cold, and the fat rises to the top, remove the fat, reserving enough to crisp up the bottom of the pork and discarding the rest. Reserve the remaining liquid, if any, for another use. It may also be frozen. Using two forks, shred the meat, discarding the fat, bones, and grizzle parts.
- To make a crispy crust on the bottom: Set a large heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven (cast iron skillet is my choice) over moderate heat and add a tablespoon or two of the reserved fat. When it has melted, add the pork and brown it so that it gets a nice crust on the bottom. It may be necessary to do this in batches if your skillet isn’t large enough.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Cover the pork while it’s in the oven??
Help! Making it today!!
Yes, place the lid on the pot before you place it in the oven. Thanks for the question.
I came to this recipe when I was looking at the tamale recipe. You suggest to use pork shoulder with bones, but then cut it into chunks. How big are the chunks and do you still keep the bone? Why do you cut it? Does the bone add flavor or would a boneless cut work as well?
Thanks for the question. You do not need to cut the pork in sections, that was a misprint. I corrected the recipe card. We do call for a bone-in pork shoulder but you can do this with a boneless pork shoulder. I think the bone adds flavor but the spice rub is pretty flavorful as well so go ahead and use what you have. It will have even more flavor when you mix it with the chile sauce for tamales. Thanks again for calling out the error we had.
Can I use beef instead?
Yes, Veronica….I think beef would be absolutely awesome! I would love know how it tastes ?
I’m all for any meal that maintains the flavor, but gets rid of all the fun fatty parts! This chipotle pulled pork is no exception! Loving this.
Thank you, Melissa 🙂